THE MERALCO Bolts snapped a three-game skid in style, banking on Sunday Salvacion’s buzzer-beating three-pointer to edge out Globalport Batang Pier, 90-89, last night in the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Salvacion’s booming triple completed the Bolts’ comeback from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit and the game-winning basket also capped the hot-shooting by the former St. Benilde hotshot.
Salvacion was on a groove yesterday as he went six-for-seven from the three-point land to finish with a team-high 20 points, making the best out of the playing time given to him after being benched in the last three games.
Globalport took an 80-68 lead early in the fourth but Meralco did not give up until they found the opportunity to steal the win.
Meralco was just 9.5 seconds away from what could have been a fourth straight debacle.
In the game winning play, the Bolts scrambled to find a decent look but Mark Cardona, who tried to drive to the paint, was able to locate Salvacion from the right elbow.
Over the outstretched arms of Willie Miller, Salvacion threw up a shot that kissed off the glass before failing in. With the win, Meralco tied its victim’s slate at 2-3 (win-loss).
Eric Dawson finished with 19 markers, while Cliff Hodge and Cardona added 16 and 15 markers, respectively. Gary David led all scorers with 27 points while Miller chipped in 22.
Former Meralco point guard Sol Mercado struggled for just six points in his first game against his former team. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA